An Allentown man is facing charges after allegedly causing a crash while fleeing police. Whitehall Township police say they spotted David McFadden early Wednesday speeding down MacArthur Road. He then allegedly tried to flee but then crashed into another car near Mickley Road. After what's described as a short foot chase, McFadden was arrested and charged with fleeing police and drug possession.
A man is under arrest in Lehigh CCounty for drug possession and for making threats in Allentown. Police say Ian Corbin fled an East Cumberland Street home Tuesday after they were called about a disturbance at that location. Police caught up with Corbin nearby and allegedly found cocaine and heroin on him. Corbin is charged with drug possession with intent to sell and making terroristic threats.
There are now 200 Northampton County farms that have been preserved. Maria Bentzoni is the county's farmland preservation administrator and says they must walk a fine line between preserving the county's agricultural tradition and welcoming new business. "There has to be an equal balance. There has to be a balance between the agricultural community that has thrived here for generations and there has to be an equal balance to development and businesses that are moving in," Bentzoni says. Northampton County set aside $3 million in both this year's and next year's budget for farmland preservation.
Penn State is getting a substantial grant to help it work on ways to beat the spotted lanternfly. The U.S. Department of Agriculture's National Institute of Food and Agriculture is giving the university $7.3 million to fund its research concerning the invasive and destrucive bug. That money isn't all however, as it will be matched by more than $5 million by property owners and growers who wish to participate in the school's work. The insect, native to Asia, has been verified in 14 Commonwealth counties and in neighboring states. It eats sap and leaves behind a dropping known as honeydew, which encourages a dangerous mold that also attracts even more insects while making a sticky mess.
Pennsylvania Secretary of Human Services Teresa Miller says the state is expanding home visiting supports to first-time mothers and mothers of children with special needs covered by Medicaid. "These programs give parents extra support and validation that they can be or are strong parents for their children," Miller says. The expansion means a guarantee of at least two home visits to new parents and families with children with additional risk factors in Pennsylvania.
Pennsylvania is warning residents that buying hunting and fishing licenses through third party websites could leave them ripped off. Both the state Fish and Boat Commission and the Game Commission report a number of anglers and hunters have recently tried to buy their licenses via non-affiliated sites and ended up getting nothing in return. According to those agencies, the Fish and Boat "Outdoor Shop" online portal is the only proven and reliable way to get licenses and permits. In addition, state officials say residents are putting their personal information at risk by using third-party sites.
Prison officials say an inmate at SCI Camp Hill bit off part of a corrections officer's finger. The assault led to two officers requiring medical treatment. That inmate has been transferred to a restricted unit at another state prison.